Audio system for drive-in theatres



Oct. 23, 1962 N. MALLERS AUDIO SYSTEM FOR DRIVE-IN THEATRES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1'7, 1958 INVENTOR. NIC K MALLERS Oct. 23, 1962 N. MALLERS 3,060,263

AUDIO SYSTEM FOR DRIVE-IN THEATRES Filed Oct. 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I um M I ggillli INVENTOR.

= mcK MALLERS United States This invention relates to drive-in theatres and, more particularly, to a device for enabling the speaker of the vehicle radio to be used for reproducing the sound part of the motion picture film.

Ordinarily, a small loud speaker is connected by means of a flexible cable to the stallway provided for the parking of each vehicle in the drive-in theatre area. These speakers are then placed within the vehicle so that the occupants may hear the sound of the motion picture film While observing it through the windshield of the vehicle. In many instances, these speakers are damaged by the inadvertent movement of the vehicle before the speaker and connecting cable have been removed from the vehicle, and because of corrosion and deterioration caused by the elements when such speakers are exposed in inclement weather. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an audio system by which the sound of the motion picture film track may be reproduced directly in the vehicle through the vehicle radio speaker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch for automobile radios which will automatically connect the speaker of the radio to the sound system of the theatre in response to the insertion of a connector member.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a volume control unit engageable within the aforementioned switch device for controlling the rod of the signal reproduced by the automobile radio speaker and which includes self contained illuminating means for facilitating the location of the various parts of the system during use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the type described that can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost, and which will provide better service to the patrons and lower operating costs to the theatre owner.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle embodying an audio switch system made in accordance with the present invention with the unit accessible from the exterior of the vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of certain parts of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly modified arrangement in which the switch memher is accessible from the interior of the vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a volume control unit forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the volume control unit shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the switch assembly forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, an automotive vehicle 10' equipped in accordance with the present invention for connection to the sound system of an outdoor theatre is shown to include an electrical switch assembly 12 mounted in the exterior side portion thereof and which includes a phono plug type receptacle for slidably receiving a phone jack type plug 14 of a volume control unit 16 forming another part of the present invention. In FIGURE 3 of atent 3,060,263 Patented Oct. 23., 1952 the drawing, a slightly modified arrangement is shown wherein the switch assembly 12 is mounted upon the dashboard of the vehicle so as to be accessible from the interior of the body.

The volume control unit 16 includes a translucent side wall 22, a base wall 24, through which the plug 14 projects, and a top closure 26 that is threadedly secured to the side wall 22 and rotatably supports a volume control adjustment shaft 28. This shaft 28 controls the position of a contact slider 34 relative to a resistance element 32. within a volume control rheostat 30. A flexible cable 20 houses one pair of conductors 35 which connects the rheostat 30 in series with the sound system 36 of the theatre and the plug 14 extending outwardly through the base 24 of the unit. Another pair of conductors 40 extending through the cable 20 energizes a lamp 38 mounted within the translucent casing 22 so as to provide sufficient light to properly locate the volume control unit 16 relative to the switch assembly 12 either on the inside or outside of the vehicle, as the case may be.

Reference is now more specifically made to FIGURE 7 of the drawing, wherein the switch assembly 12 is shown to include a spring plate conductor 42 that is normally spring biased into electrical contact with a contact element 44 which thus closes the circuit through a transformer 46 of the vehicle radio speaker 50, which is nor mally driven by the amplifier of the vehicle radio. However, in response to the insertion of the leading contact tip 52 of the plug 14 into the mounting 54 of the switch assembly, the spring contact 42 is moved out of circuit closing engagement with the fixed contact 44 and instead connects the speaker 50 of the vehicle in series with the rheostat 30 and the theatre sound system 36, whereby the sound signal produced by the theatre sound system is reproduced through the vehicle speaker 50, the volume of which may be controlled by adjustment of the control shaft 28 of the rheostat 30.

It will now be recognized that it is only necessary to provide each stall post 18 with a volume control unit 16 by connecting the terminals of the conductors 35, 4t thereto. When the vehicle drives into the stallway, all that remains to be done is to insert the plug 14 of the volume control unit 16 into the external switch assembly receptacle illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, or into the similar receptacle of the switch assembly 12 mounted upon the dashboard of the vehicle illustrated in FIGURE 3, whereby the volume of the sound being reproduced is completely within the control of the occupants of the vehicle and is reproduced through the speaker of the vehicle radio. In the event that the vehicle starts to drive away before the parts are disconnected, the tensioned connecting cable 20 will merely snap the volume control unit 16 out of the switch receptacle without damage to any parts. In addition, inclement weather, heat, and the like will not adversely effect the operating parts of the volume control unit 16 which can be conveniently stored in any desired position upon the stall post 18.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secured by Letters Patent:

1. An audio system comprising, in combination, a speaker mounted within a vehicle, a switch normally connecting said speaker in circuit with a radio audio amplifier, a volume control unit having conductor means for connection to an audio signal source and to said switch, said switch having contacts automatically connecting aid audio signal source to said speaker in response to connection of said volume control unit to said switch, said volume control unit comprising a rheost-at, a control shaft connected to said rheostat controlling the setting thereof, said volume control unit including a translucent casing, and an illuminated lamp mounted within said casing visible through said casing and illuminating said casing to facilitate the manipulation thereof, said volume control unit further comprising an outwardly extending phono type plug, and said switch including a receptacle slidably receiving said plug therewithin, wherein said switch further comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact being disposed in the path of movement of said plug through said receptacle for disconnecting said movable contact from said fixed contact and connecting said movable and fixed contacts to separate contacts carried by said plug, said separate contacts carried by said plug being connected in series With said volume control rheostat and the audio system of a theatre.

2. An audio system as set forth in claim 1', wherein said switch receptacle is supported upon the exterior surface of the vehicle for access from the outside of the vehicle body.

3. An audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch receptacle is carried upon the vehicle dashboard for access from the interior of the vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,297 Smalenberger Jan. 5, 1926 2,549,676 Dunn et a1. Apr. 17, 1951 2,619,544 Satterfield NOV. 25, 1952 2,765,365 Grosh et al. Oct. 2, 1956 

